MACUA: State continues to prioritise business over people
On 16 August 2012, police in the North West killed 34 Lonmin miners who were striking for better wages.
On Wednesday, civil lobby group, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), held a march in Pretoria to commemorate the event.
ALSO READ:
• Civil lobby group MACUA criticised for targeting illegal miners not buyers of illicit materials
• Calls are growing for the legalisation of artisanal mining by communities around mining towns
• Some mining communities believe current legislation excludes them from being consulted on mining activities
As part of its march, MACUA submitted its objection to the Draft Minerals Resources Development Bill.
It said that the bill, in its current form, did not fully address the issue of consultation between communities and mining companies.
Thirteen years later, the group's Sabelo Mnguni said that the state continued to prioritise business over people.
"Marikana happens in different forms. We are being killed where we live because we live in contaminated land. We drink contaminated water, our houses are cracking and the environment in cracking, so Marikana is everyday."
The group said that an investigation must be held into the Stilfontein tragedy, where 78 suspected zama zama's died earlier this year.
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